I took Ethan to the orothotist today (leg brace Dr) as he has been complaining that his brace hurts. He takes off his leg brace as his first opportunity... especially in the car when he knows Mommy can't reach him to stop him. The orothotist said that he is definitely outgrowing his leg brace and stretched it to give him a couple more months of use. They are so good to him at the office.
His physical therapist (pt), Cece, is new to him for about 2 months. His previous pt left to get married and moved out of state. The first day Cece saw him she asked me if he was going through or has gone through a growth spurt recently. I said yes and that all his shirts are becoming belly shirts on him. She said he is really high on his toe. She attempted to stretch him but didn't get much results. She said his leg is really tight. She went back to her office and got this machine. It is called an EPTS tens 1000. (electro point tens stimulator) She used it on him for about 10 minutes. Ethan didn't even know what she was doing. She kept telling him it was a tickle machine. After 10 minutes it had relaxed him to the point where she could get a thorough stretch from him. She put his leg brace back on and he walked flat foot (no toes) for the rest of the day. Can we say Holy Cow! The next couple of visits, once a week, she continued to use it with the same results. I told her that I didn't want to, but was afraid it was coming down to it, that I was going to have to serial cast him again this year. Every growth spurt makes his leg tight. I asked if she could write down exactly what the EPTS is so I could go to Ethan's Pediatric Orthopedic doctor the following week to ask for a script. She wrote it all down for me. My occupational therapist, OT, even began using the EPTS on his hand and thumb with great results. This machine is golden! (I can also use it on Evan when he comes home. She even showed me that it works on pressure points, like accupuncture, and used it on me. She put it on the pressure point for calming someone. I had to admit it worked.)
I went to his Pediatric Orthopedic Dr last week. She said he is extremely tight. She said my options are serial casting again or Botox shots. I told her about the EPTS unit from the PT and the results I've seen. I asked if she could/would write me a script. She said she will with the understanding that I will return in 3 months time (October). If there is no results from the EPTS then I will either serial cast or Botox shot him. She said she saw Ethan three months ago and she could get his foot/ankle 10 degrees past neutral. She said today she could barely get him to neutral position. She didn't want him to get so tight that he can't walk or our only option is surgery. I agreed. Right now I am fighting with the insurance company to get the EPTS unit. Please pray that all goes well and we get the machine. Another positive aspect with this unit is I can use it on a daily basis so even when Ethan goes through a growth spurt I/we are not set back to serial casting. (serial casting was done last summer with huge results. the process is the pediatric Dr stretches his foot as far as it will go without pain then immediately cast it in that position. We return 4-6 weeks later. They cut off the cast, wash the leg, immediate stretch the foot further then previously and immediately recast it in the new position. We wait 4-6 weeks again then they cut it off. The results are positive and the foot stays flat/level for many months or until another growth spurt. The process is painful, at times, and he gets a "charley horese" from time to time. I demaned pain medicine for such times or no serial casting. The dr was nice enough to agree. Thankfully we used very little pain medicine. I just didn't want to put him through that again. We definitely don't want to do Botox at this time or even last time. Long story and even more painful than serial casting.)
The orothotist (leg brace Dr) that we saw today wanted to make him a new brace today but after I told him about the EPTS unit he said there is no point in making a new brace. He said if he gets serial casted then after cast is removed then he will have to make new leg brace for new foot position. He then stretched the leg brace and said to come back if either the EPTS worked and he'd make a new brace or after serial casting when he wouldn't have an option but to make him a new leg brace.
Please pray for Ethan that he gets the EPTS unit and that he is successful with it. Please, please pray for this.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
My little man is growing taller...
I measured Ethan on his wall chart back on 5-23-08 and he was just over 40 inches tall but not by much. I just measured him tonight and he is 41 inches exactly! Last checkup at doctor he weighed 38 lbs. My little boy is growing!
I write too much...
One of my family members said to me tonight that he doesn't read my blog or my personal emails to him because "I write too much." He will have his wife read it then give him the short version. If the rest of you feel that way please don't tell me as it only hurts my feelings.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Eye specialist...
Ethan went to the eye specialist today at All Children's Hospital. This is eye specialist number two. I'm too tired to type about it tonight. We spent the day at All Children's Hospital (ACH) for therapy. We had OT from 1030-1130 then speech from 1130-1230. I was to take him to music therapy from 930-1000am but knowing we'd be there all day I passed on music today. We went to the cafeteria at the hospital for lunch. We walked back across the street to the eye specialist. Our appt was at 2pm and we didn't leave his office until after 3pm. We have to get to bed early (yeah right! It's 10pm now and I can still hear Ethan talking in his bed... but he is staying in bed which is a good thing. He'll be tired tomorrow.) We have an early appt tomorrow (930am) with the orothotist (leg brace dr) because I think Ethan has outgrown his current brace and needs a new one. He keeps complaining it hurts and they have already stetched it out twice for him. Plus he keeps growing like a weed. I think it's time for a new one. Thus I will update on both tomorrow. Oh I spoke too soon. Ethan just got out of bed!
Good night.
**updated** 7/31/08
Ethan had an eye specialist, Dr. Silverman. Last year before Ethan got glasses he looked at everything really close up. Dr. Silverman said he as an accuate astigmatism but wouldn't prescribe glasses. Then within a month he developed this "blinking" thing with both eyes. It seemed as if he was trying to focus on something and was blinking to clear his vision. I took him back to Silverman after two months of his first visit. Silverman said Ethan had a "tick" and to take him to a neurologist. I kept reassuring him that Ethan doesnt have a tick. I said that he has a pt, ot, pediatric dr, and a neurologist since 9 months old and none have reported a tick. His comment, well, I will prescribe glasses but he has a tick. I felt like punching him. We got Ethan glasses (a few wks prior to his 3rd birthday) and guess what... the blinking went away! Go figure! We went back to Silverman in June 2008 for his follow up. The first thing Silverman says is, "how is your son's tick?" I felt like jumping out of my seat. I said, amazingly he got glasses and we haven't seen the blinking since. Notice I didn't say tick? I said I even followed up with his neurologist who agreed he doesnt have a tick. Silverman said that ticks just dont go away. He does his eye exam... the entire time I am fuming. Ethan's astigmatism is worst than last year so he prescribes a new script for glasses. I fill the script with new glasses and the "blink" returns on just his right eye but this time it scrunches up his entire face. It looks really bad too. However, it goes away when you removed the glasses.... then returns when you put on his glasses. Silverman says it's a tick. silverman is suppose to be this absolute specialist and each one of Ethan's dr's highly recommend him. I knew I was getting no where. Silverman's bed side manner stinks. He talks down to me... and wont listen to my concerns or try to figure out what is the cause other than saying he has a tick. A stranger over heard me talking about it and she recommeded this highly specialized eye dr at All Children's Hospital (ACH) in St Pete. We are at ACH twice a week so I made an appointment. His name is Dr. Hess. I saw Dr. Hess today. He did agree that with his astigmatism he definitley needs glasses. The day we saw Dr Hess he had one intern and one dr sitting in on the appt with us. Dr Hess could not figure out why he did the blinking but said it was NOT a tick as ticks don't go away when the glasses are off and come back when the glasses are on. Thank God someone was listening to me! He gave me a sheet of paper with pictures of a house, tree, cake, bear, car, bike on it. He said to come back when Ethan could identify these objects. I gave the sheet to ethan and asked him to tell me what they were. He successfully gave me each object by name. Go Ethan! Dr Hess was impressed. He then put the objects on the screen across the room and made them smaller and smaller and asked him to name each. Some where so small I couldn't see them but that's no surprise as I have horrible vision. Ethan named all with glasses and missed a few without his glasses. The positive thing is Dr Hess said his vision, despite the bad astigmatism, is not very different with or without his glasses. He said to have Ethan stop wearing the glasses and come back in 6 months for a follow up. It was funny to see all three dr's try to figure out why he "blinks." They kept trouble shooting everything and asked a bunch of questions. We were in the office for over an hour. Dr Hess was extremely thorough. He looked as his eyes with different machines. He said Ethan's eyes are in good condition and all the inside of his eyes are in good condition (my techinal terms not his). This was very reassuring as I thought that since he has a brain problem I was worried something was starting to go with his vision too. He said he saw no problem with either eye. Praise God! Praise God for Dr. Hess too!
Good night.
**updated** 7/31/08
Ethan had an eye specialist, Dr. Silverman. Last year before Ethan got glasses he looked at everything really close up. Dr. Silverman said he as an accuate astigmatism but wouldn't prescribe glasses. Then within a month he developed this "blinking" thing with both eyes. It seemed as if he was trying to focus on something and was blinking to clear his vision. I took him back to Silverman after two months of his first visit. Silverman said Ethan had a "tick" and to take him to a neurologist. I kept reassuring him that Ethan doesnt have a tick. I said that he has a pt, ot, pediatric dr, and a neurologist since 9 months old and none have reported a tick. His comment, well, I will prescribe glasses but he has a tick. I felt like punching him. We got Ethan glasses (a few wks prior to his 3rd birthday) and guess what... the blinking went away! Go figure! We went back to Silverman in June 2008 for his follow up. The first thing Silverman says is, "how is your son's tick?" I felt like jumping out of my seat. I said, amazingly he got glasses and we haven't seen the blinking since. Notice I didn't say tick? I said I even followed up with his neurologist who agreed he doesnt have a tick. Silverman said that ticks just dont go away. He does his eye exam... the entire time I am fuming. Ethan's astigmatism is worst than last year so he prescribes a new script for glasses. I fill the script with new glasses and the "blink" returns on just his right eye but this time it scrunches up his entire face. It looks really bad too. However, it goes away when you removed the glasses.... then returns when you put on his glasses. Silverman says it's a tick. silverman is suppose to be this absolute specialist and each one of Ethan's dr's highly recommend him. I knew I was getting no where. Silverman's bed side manner stinks. He talks down to me... and wont listen to my concerns or try to figure out what is the cause other than saying he has a tick. A stranger over heard me talking about it and she recommeded this highly specialized eye dr at All Children's Hospital (ACH) in St Pete. We are at ACH twice a week so I made an appointment. His name is Dr. Hess. I saw Dr. Hess today. He did agree that with his astigmatism he definitley needs glasses. The day we saw Dr Hess he had one intern and one dr sitting in on the appt with us. Dr Hess could not figure out why he did the blinking but said it was NOT a tick as ticks don't go away when the glasses are off and come back when the glasses are on. Thank God someone was listening to me! He gave me a sheet of paper with pictures of a house, tree, cake, bear, car, bike on it. He said to come back when Ethan could identify these objects. I gave the sheet to ethan and asked him to tell me what they were. He successfully gave me each object by name. Go Ethan! Dr Hess was impressed. He then put the objects on the screen across the room and made them smaller and smaller and asked him to name each. Some where so small I couldn't see them but that's no surprise as I have horrible vision. Ethan named all with glasses and missed a few without his glasses. The positive thing is Dr Hess said his vision, despite the bad astigmatism, is not very different with or without his glasses. He said to have Ethan stop wearing the glasses and come back in 6 months for a follow up. It was funny to see all three dr's try to figure out why he "blinks." They kept trouble shooting everything and asked a bunch of questions. We were in the office for over an hour. Dr Hess was extremely thorough. He looked as his eyes with different machines. He said Ethan's eyes are in good condition and all the inside of his eyes are in good condition (my techinal terms not his). This was very reassuring as I thought that since he has a brain problem I was worried something was starting to go with his vision too. He said he saw no problem with either eye. Praise God! Praise God for Dr. Hess too!
Ethan's prayer tonight....
I found a new fun place that Ethan and I like to spend our time. It's called Bounce You. It's a huge building with two rooms filled with bounce houses. Each room has at least 4 bounce house activites. Parents and children can bounce together as each bounce house holds 3000 lbs. I'll post pictures and more about Bounce You later. Let's just say that Bounce You has been Ethan's main topic for the last week. We've been twice in less than a week!
So tonight Ethan is saying his prayers. We kneel beside his bed together and he says prayers. It's just the most precious thing ever! He is in the middle of saying his prayers and says, "God Bless Bounce You." Then his head pops up real quick. He opens his eyes and looks right at me. I had opened my eyes when I felt his head pop up. He says, "Mommy, I said God Bless Bounce You." I said, "I know. I heard you." Just like that he puts his head down and closes his eyes. He started where he left off.... "God Bless Bounce You," then continued with his prayers.
So tonight Ethan is saying his prayers. We kneel beside his bed together and he says prayers. It's just the most precious thing ever! He is in the middle of saying his prayers and says, "God Bless Bounce You." Then his head pops up real quick. He opens his eyes and looks right at me. I had opened my eyes when I felt his head pop up. He says, "Mommy, I said God Bless Bounce You." I said, "I know. I heard you." Just like that he puts his head down and closes his eyes. He started where he left off.... "God Bless Bounce You," then continued with his prayers.
It's a girl!!! Another girl!
Yeah! Congratualtions to Kristen and Brian! They received the joyous news today that they will be having a baby girl in December! Praise God! What a blessing!
Much love,
Fay
Much love,
Fay
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Good news... sort of...(our adoption)
The adoption agency sent an email today saying the ICAB (Inter Country Adoption Board) has requested more information from our dossier. The ICAB is requesting a notarized letter from each of our children, Jashua and Laurel, saying they approve of the adoption. The adoption agency said that without these letters the ICAB will deny our adoption. Thankfully, both of our children have agreed to write these letters. The other good news is this means the ICAB is reviewing our dossier. Yeah! Once approved by ICAB then it is 4 months to travel to bring Evan home.
Please, please pray for quick paperwork, quick letters, quick approval, and definitely quick travel time. Please also keep Evan in your prayers. Prayers are much needed and much appreciated.
Please, please pray for quick paperwork, quick letters, quick approval, and definitely quick travel time. Please also keep Evan in your prayers. Prayers are much needed and much appreciated.
It's a girl!!!! Baby Bean.....
My youngest brother, Chad and his wife, Stacy are having a baby girl! This is such a heavenly blessing! Her name is Emery Destin. They will be calling her by her initials E.D. (Edie) after my mom. This is an incredible honor for my mom! She is due in December. Stacy and baby are doing well. She just passed week 20 in her pregnancy which means she only has 20 weeks to go! When the first ultrasound was developed Chad and Stacy called her "baby bean." They said she looks like a little bean. She has a beautfiul nursery awaiting her arrival. It's Gator blue and orange after her dad's alumni, University of Florida. She certainly is loved! It's fun trying to talk with Ethan about Aunt Stacy having a baby. She isn't showing yet plus what three year old grasps the concept of a pregnant woman. However, it's adorable to hear Ethan say his prayers each night. He says, "God bless Uncle Chad, Aunt Stacy, and Baby Bean." It's really cute. He refers to baby bean so often and says things like... "baby bean likes trains" or "baby bean likes Jungala" or "baby bean is going to play cars with me." What a precious little gift to have another baby girl in our family!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Library bag...
One of the things that Ethan and I love to do is to go to the library! I enjoy listening to books on cd. When I worked for Verizon I listened to at least two books a week due to drive time. Now that I don't work for them I find that my time to listen to books has been greatly reduced. Ethan has come to enjoy listening to the books as well since he is usually in the car with me. I don't listen to "mushy sex scenes" or "violent" stuff with him in the car. Truthfully most of my books are comedy. I never thought Ethan paid much attention until he repeated part of a book then I knew it was sinking in. (At the end of each book there is an excert that talks about reading to children or even having them listen to them on cd is great.) Ethan and I travel to All Children's Hospital (ACH) for therapy twice a week. A few weeks ago I got a children's book about mouse tales on cd and we listened to that back and forth to ACH. It was really cute and I could hear Ethan laughing in the backseat. He proceeded to tell the therapist all about the mouse when we got to therapy. When we are at the library Ethan picks out at least 6 books to read at home. The last trip we meet a mom who had two separate canvas bags for her daughters to carry their books. I said to Ethan that he needs one for his books. I went to Micheal's and bought a bag (Ethan choose the color) and added his name on it. Now it proudly sits in his playroom filled with his library books. He is so very proud of his book bag. He carries it around the house and shows anyone that comes over. I can't wait to take it the next time we go to the library. Oh and next time we go to the library Ethan will get his own library card. He has proven that he is responsible enough to take care of his library books. We've gone all summer.
The new blog...
A long time ago a sweet friend of mine said she liked my blog. She said it was a great way to capture memories of Ethan and our family. She said I could then read them later for memories.
When I first began writing my blog I kept it mostly for my oldest son, Jashua, as he was stationed over seas, in Italy, Germany, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He loves his little brother as Ethan loves him. This would give him another opportunity to keep up on our lives when he was so far away. In 2006 when I began this blog Ethan was just a little baby. I wanted to keep our family connected in another way other than just writing letters. I figured Jashua could just click on my blog any time he wanted and catch up on family life at home. I also started this blog for my family in Utah. The don't get the opportunity to see Ethan on a daily basis. I figured this would give them an opportunity to read my entries and see pictures of their grandson.
Then other people, friends and family, began reading my blog and I added funny things about my twin sister, Lana. Next thing I know I began to get comments like, "I like reading your blog because that allows me to keep up to date with you and your family." Or, "I love the pictures of Ethan and your family." However, as always, I began getting negative comments like "I checked out your blog for the first time and all I saw was your son's poop in the toilet. That's disgusting. Don't do it again." Or a very close friend of mine said that she doesnt read my blog because "it's just too long. You write too much. I don't have time." Then things happened in life that I didnt want on my blog and life got too busy. Time went by and I just didn't update my blog. From time to time people would ask why I haven't updated my blog. Ultimately my feeling got hurt by one comment that keeps nagging at me... so I quit typing my blog.
About a month ago, I got a phone call from my son, Jashua. He asked why I don't write my blog any longer. I explained to him my view point and feelings. He asked me to please continue my blog. How can I deny him when it was him that I began it for?
Last night I copied and pasted all my entries into another place. I plan on uploading to Kodak Gallery and have it printed into a leather binder book. My sweet friend is right! It was wonderful to read all my past entries. It was great to see the pictures of Ethan at a younger age. It was special to read what I was feeling that day. I then deleted all my past posts and began anew. I plan on doing this about once every year or so. My sweet friend said she was going to start her own blog. K.S., I certainly hope you did! I'd love to read it and share in your family too.
As for everyone else, family and friends, if you like to read this and share in our daily lives then thank you. This is simple entries of our lives as parents from my perspective. I like the fun activities we do. I like the silly things my son says. It's amazing to see him grow up. It is incredible to know that he will be four years old next month! For the people in my life that have children, pregnant, starting a new married life together, I recommended.... strongly recommend... that you start a journal of your own. Last night reading my past entries meant the world to me!
Much love,
Fay Catharine
xoxxo
When I first began writing my blog I kept it mostly for my oldest son, Jashua, as he was stationed over seas, in Italy, Germany, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He loves his little brother as Ethan loves him. This would give him another opportunity to keep up on our lives when he was so far away. In 2006 when I began this blog Ethan was just a little baby. I wanted to keep our family connected in another way other than just writing letters. I figured Jashua could just click on my blog any time he wanted and catch up on family life at home. I also started this blog for my family in Utah. The don't get the opportunity to see Ethan on a daily basis. I figured this would give them an opportunity to read my entries and see pictures of their grandson.
Then other people, friends and family, began reading my blog and I added funny things about my twin sister, Lana. Next thing I know I began to get comments like, "I like reading your blog because that allows me to keep up to date with you and your family." Or, "I love the pictures of Ethan and your family." However, as always, I began getting negative comments like "I checked out your blog for the first time and all I saw was your son's poop in the toilet. That's disgusting. Don't do it again." Or a very close friend of mine said that she doesnt read my blog because "it's just too long. You write too much. I don't have time." Then things happened in life that I didnt want on my blog and life got too busy. Time went by and I just didn't update my blog. From time to time people would ask why I haven't updated my blog. Ultimately my feeling got hurt by one comment that keeps nagging at me... so I quit typing my blog.
About a month ago, I got a phone call from my son, Jashua. He asked why I don't write my blog any longer. I explained to him my view point and feelings. He asked me to please continue my blog. How can I deny him when it was him that I began it for?
Last night I copied and pasted all my entries into another place. I plan on uploading to Kodak Gallery and have it printed into a leather binder book. My sweet friend is right! It was wonderful to read all my past entries. It was great to see the pictures of Ethan at a younger age. It was special to read what I was feeling that day. I then deleted all my past posts and began anew. I plan on doing this about once every year or so. My sweet friend said she was going to start her own blog. K.S., I certainly hope you did! I'd love to read it and share in your family too.
As for everyone else, family and friends, if you like to read this and share in our daily lives then thank you. This is simple entries of our lives as parents from my perspective. I like the fun activities we do. I like the silly things my son says. It's amazing to see him grow up. It is incredible to know that he will be four years old next month! For the people in my life that have children, pregnant, starting a new married life together, I recommended.... strongly recommend... that you start a journal of your own. Last night reading my past entries meant the world to me!
Much love,
Fay Catharine
xoxxo
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Under construction...
My blog is currently under construction! It's amazing what you do at 20 mins to midnight when you cant sleep. I will let you know when the new blog is available.
much love,
fay
much love,
fay
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